The 116th Congress was seated Thursday, with Democrats taking the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives after eight years out of power. The first order of business was electing Rep. Nancy Pelosi to be House speaker for the second time.
Pelosi has announced plans to immediately pass a spending bill to end the government shutdown. However, the bill does not include funding for a border wall, so President Trump has said that he will not sign it.
Pelosi invited her grandchildren and all other children in the audience to join her at the front of the chamber as she took the oath of office. The oath was administered by the dean of the House, GOP Rep. Don Young of Alaska.
A beaming Pelosi swore to defend the Constitution. "Congratulations, Madame Speaker," Young said as the confirmation ended.
"I now call the House to order on behalf of all America's children," Pelosi said to cheers. She then released the children behind her to join their parents, but a number decided they would rather stand with her.
Pelosi then swore in members of the House of Representatives. The members dutifully took their oath, and were congratulated by Pelosi.
Newly elected Speaker Nancy Pelosi gave a speech after accepting the gavel from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy. She began her speech by praising the over 100 women in the House, the largest in history.
She said that the overwhelming victory of Democrats at the polls in November showed that the public wanted the House to challenge the president.
"Our nation is at an historic moment. Two months ago, the American people spoke, and demanded a new dawn," Pelosi said. "They called upon the beauty of our Constitution: our system of checks and balances that protects our democracy, remembering that the legislative branch is Article I: the first branch of government, co-equal to the president and judiciary."
Pelosi said that Democrats must be "pioneers of the future" and "accelerate a future that advances America's preeminence in the world" by improving public education and workforce development. She also sounds a warning on climate change, calling it "a crisis manifested in natural disasters of epic proportions."
"This is a public health decision for clean air and clean water; an economic decision for America's global preeminence in green technology; a security decision to keep us safe; and a moral decision to be good stewards of God's creation," Pelosi said about the need for Congress to combat climate change.
She also referred to the "For the People" agenda, which Democrats campaigned on nationally, a package including bills on infrastructure, ethics reform, lowering health care costs and protecting those with pre-existing conditions. Pelosi mentioned other priorities as well, such as LGBT equality and implementing bipartisan background check legislation.
However, before Pelosi can achieve any of these goals, the partial government shutdown must end. President Trump is refusing to sign any legislation which does not include funding for a border wall, which Democrats in the House and Senate are unwilling to provide.
"We will debate and advance good ideas no matter where they come from - and in that spirit, Democrats will be offering the Senate Republican appropriations legislation to re-open government later today - to meet the needs of the American people, and to protect our borders," Pelosi said about the Democrats' immediate agenda.
Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy gave a speech before presenting the gavel to Pelosi, effectively passing power from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party in the House.
In his speech, McCarthy outlined the differences between the Republican and Democratic Parties, but was respectful of Pelosi and her time in Congress.
"While we seek cooperation, there is one core principle upon which we will not compromise. Republicans will always choose personal freedom over government control," McCarthy said.
He said that Thursday marked "a new chapter in this house's pursuit of a more perfect nation."
"The country knows Nancy Pelosi as an experienced politician with three decades of service in Congress. A fighter for her cause. And a true trailblazer," he said. "Even when we disagree with one another completely, it is important to remember that we are bonded together in a common cause: our love for America."
"In that spirit, in the pursuit of a more perfect union, and in the unshakable belief that America was, is and will always be the greatest country on the face of the earth, I extend the hand of friendship to every member of this body," McCarthy concluded. "To the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, I extend to you this gavel."